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We asked 15 experts, “What do we do now that will be considered unthinkable in 50 years?”
Vox ^ | 4/3/2019 | Various

Posted on 04/03/2019 11:42:10 AM PDT by Borges

Edited on 04/03/2019 3:31:29 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

Some 50 years ago, in 1964, 42 percent of Americans smoked cigarettes. Smoking in bars and offices was normal and cigarettes were given to soldiers as part of military rations. Half of American physicians smoked. Ads for cigarettes bombarded the American public. That year, the surgeon general released a report outlining the health risks of smoking. Two years later, only 40 percent of Americans said that they believed smoking was a major cause of cancer.


(Excerpt) Read more at vox.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: 401k; barackobama; cancer; dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; football; genderdysphoria; globalwarminghoax; greennewdeal; harrisonford; homosexualagenda; jacobtlevy; jennifermittelstadt; petersinger; russia; smoking; spikelee; tobacco; ukraine; unthinkable; vox
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To: Borges

IBM had cigarette machines in the building and matches dispensed with the cigarettes, with ‘IBM’ printed on them. Also smoking was permitted in the small conference rooms and offices.


41 posted on 04/03/2019 12:01:43 PM PDT by duckman ( Not tired of winning!)
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To: Borges
The high-level concept of a 401k is not a bad idea.

It should be limited to a few managing companies, kind of like Medicare Advantage. It should be limited to life cycle funds. Employers over a certain size should be required to participate. It should require a minimum contribution by both the employee and the employer. The same account should follow you between employers--it should be truly portable. You should not be able to roll it over into an IRA until you have retired.

For those desiring a more aggressive retirement investment program, they should do it within an IRA.

You rarely if ever hear the various complaints about 401ks applied to the TSP, or to state government defined contribution plans.

I also think Social Security should work similarly.

42 posted on 04/03/2019 12:01:46 PM PDT by magellan
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To: Quality_Not_Quantity

And destruction by global warming a decade away if we don’t act now.


43 posted on 04/03/2019 12:01:54 PM PDT by gundog ( Hail to the Chief, bitches!)
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To: Jeff Chandler
I think that will leave South America as the craphole area of the world that never emerges from its constant turmoil due to drugs and corrupt dictators.

This may be due to its isolation in the southern hemisphere, away from other continents where natural trade is easier. At least Africa has Europe and Asia right to its north.

-PJ

44 posted on 04/03/2019 12:02:56 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (The 1st Amendment gives the People the right to a free press, not CNN the right to the 1st question.)
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To: higgmeister

Conspicuous consumption won’t end.
To the reverse of Singer’s point, the number of “existential poor” (abjectly so, facing prospect of starvation/hypothermia) will reach vanishingly small numbers.

Capitalism seeks ever more customers, and the more that can be sold to the very poorest serves (to the confusion of socialists) to lift both seller and customer.

Abject poverty worldwide has plummeted from 80% a few decades back to under 10% (see Bill Gates’ article on the subject) thanks mostly to capitalism making goods/services ever cheaper. Give us another 50 years, and that will be practically eliminated.


45 posted on 04/03/2019 12:03:09 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (The Red Queen wasn't kidding.)
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To: ctdonath2

The use of reason. Free Speech.


46 posted on 04/03/2019 12:04:01 PM PDT by Sam Gamgee
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To: CatOwner

I agree. The current generation is moving away from constitutional democracy towards fascism.


47 posted on 04/03/2019 12:04:33 PM PDT by Sam Gamgee
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To: ctdonath2
My first thought also.

It's so unthinkable to so many right now and I believe it is growing.

Let's be realistic. Trump as an anti abortion candidate pulled women from Hillary...she hasn't blamed that for her loss yet.

48 posted on 04/03/2019 12:06:51 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Borges

I will say the essay about the all-volunteer force has valid points.

I remember back during Clinton’s foray into the Balkans, when there was talk of sending ground troops, and some liberal jerk on the local radio was all in support of Clinton sending in troops. He said he didn’t want to hear about national security interests or Just War theory, because if you volunteered to join the military it was your job to shut up and go.


49 posted on 04/03/2019 12:10:41 PM PDT by magellan
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To: Borges

Sodas, or maybe some kind of meat alternatives
People stop taking the bible or koran literally
no more wars over fairy tales etc


50 posted on 04/03/2019 12:12:13 PM PDT by Nomad577
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To: Borges

I think the movie Interstellar called it:

No-one will believe that the 1960s moon landing happened:

http://centerforaninformedamerica.com/moondoggie/


51 posted on 04/03/2019 12:12:47 PM PDT by cgbg (Democracy dies in darkness when Bezos bans books.)
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To: Borges

1. We will no longer need to remember lists of passwords. Our computers will do a retinal scan, instead.
2. 3D TV will be advanced to the point of not needing special glasses, and looking at the screen will be like looking out of a window.
3. Space-folding warp drive technology will still be “just around the corner.”
4. Conservative parents will be accused of child abuse for not having their babies gene-modified and at a disadvantage to babies who are.
5. Online shopping with drone delivery will be blamed for bankruptcy of the last surviving retail chain.
6. President Harding’s family will still be refusing to release his personal correspondences.


52 posted on 04/03/2019 12:15:21 PM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: Borges

“Our obsession with rationality “

WTF?


53 posted on 04/03/2019 12:15:42 PM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: Borges

A lot of things were “unthinkable” 55 years ago.

1) Who would have thought everyone would be wearing a helmet when bike riding or skiing?
2) who could have imagined a telephone computer in every pocket?
3) That taxes would be so high women would be forced into the workplace.
4) Rampant child abuse by Catholic priests in the 60’s to 80’s would ruin the church
5) High school graduates would be less prepared for the workforce and instead of learning reading writing and arithmetic they would focus on gender studies and environmental activism.
6) China would be America’s greatest threat.
7) You would no longer have privacy and all your information would be in the cloud and cybersecurity would be the primary concern.


54 posted on 04/03/2019 12:19:44 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Jeff Chandler
The only problem with white sugar is its over-use.

Right. Just like tobacco. One or two puffs from a cigarette every couple weeks is harmless.

The problem lies in the fact that it is physically addictive and over-use is a natural progression from regular-use for large numbers of people.

Nevermind the fact that we subsidize corn syrup....That is just bonkers.

55 posted on 04/03/2019 12:20:15 PM PDT by nitzy
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To: Borges

The Dead will rise and walk about....


56 posted on 04/03/2019 12:20:56 PM PDT by dpetty121263
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Abortion won’t be a procedure it’ll be a self administered OTC pill. That is of course just in case you forgot the OTC birth control pill.

Euthanasia won’t be a procedure it’ll be a self administered pill, providing all licensing criteria has been met so there are no surprises.


57 posted on 04/03/2019 12:25:05 PM PDT by Clutch Martin (The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.)
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To: ctdonath2

Offer an opinion that diverges in any way from popular groupthink.


58 posted on 04/03/2019 12:27:19 PM PDT by notloud
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To: Borges
When we think about what common habits, social norms, or laws that are widely considered unthinkable in today’s world, a variety of past atrocities come to mind.

Like voting for Democrats?

59 posted on 04/03/2019 12:27:33 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit)
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To: ctdonath2

It’s Vox which means it’s Leftist BS.


60 posted on 04/03/2019 12:28:00 PM PDT by Bayan
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